Samson SR850 vs AKG K240 Studio

What published reviews say about each, where the two differ, and who each one suits.

Summed up from 15 published reviews

Samson

SR850

Budget open-back headphones with excellent soundstage and value, but bright treble, cheap build, and poor isolation.

Best for: Budget studio monitoring and critical listening
Skip it if: Need noise isolation or bass-heavy sound

PriceToday's price on AmazonView on Amazon

What reviewers say about the Samson SR850

AKG

K240 Studio

The AKG K240 Studio offers comfortable, natural sound at a low price but suffers from weak bass, poor isolation, and durability concerns.

Best for: Budget studio mixing and critical listening in quiet spaces
Skip it if: Need strong bass, noise isolation, or rugged portability

PriceToday's price on AmazonView on Amazon

What reviewers say about the AKG K240 Studio

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Specs side by side

Spec	Samson SR850	AKG K240 Studio
Fit	Over-ear	Over-ear
Connection	Wired	Wired
Noise cancelling	No	No
Best for	Studio, Music	Studio, Music
Microphone	No mic	No mic
Ear cups	Open-back	Open-back

Rows where the two differ come first.

What reviewers like, and what they don't

Samson SR850

Excellent sound quality for the price 1 2 3 4
Wide open soundstage with good imaging 1 3 4 5
Comfortable and lightweight for long sessions 1 2 3 4
Neutral balanced sound good for monitoring 4 5 6 7
Very affordable often under fifty dollars 4 5 6
Bright treble can be fatiguing 1 3 6 7
Cheap plastic build with fixed cable 1 3 4 5
Poor isolation leaks sound heavily 1 2 3 4
Small pads cause discomfort heat buildup 3 4 5 6

AKG K240 Studio

Comfortable, lightweight design suits extended listening sessions 1 2 3 4
Natural, detailed sound with wide soundstage 1 2 3 5
Excellent value for budget-conscious buyers 1 2 3 4
Detachable cable and replaceable earpads enhance longevity 2 3 4 7
Self-adjusting headband provides hassle-free fit 1 7
Bass lacks depth and impact 1 2 3 4
Semi-open design leaks sound, poor isolation 1 2 3 4
Plastic build and cable fraying raise durability concerns 1 2 3 4
Earpads wear quickly and can become sweaty 3 4 7

Ranked in our guides

Guide	SR850	K240 Studio
Best open-back headphones	–	#1

Sources

We don't test products ourselves. This page sums up 15 published reviews, read on October 23, 2026; each point above links to the reviews that make it.